Hifter, the commander of Libya’s self-styled national army allied with its eastern-based parliament, is a rival to the internationally recognized government in Tripoli led by Faez Sarraj.

Russia has maintained contacts with both Libyan leaders in a bid to expand its clout by talking to both sides.

Libya sank into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and has remained split between rival parliaments and governments in the east and west, each backed by a set of militias, tribes and political factions.